7 – Breaking News & Latest Updates 2026
Skip to main content

Smartwatch

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra hands-on: ultra déjà vu
Play

It’s the Apple Watch Ultra, but for Android. Oh, and the Galaxy Watch 7 is here, too.

Victoria Song
Antonio G. Di Benedetto
Antonio G. Di Benedetto
This GaN charger wears your Apple Watch like a little hat.

Nomad has a new $100 wall charger that, in addition to offering a pair of table-stakes USB-C ports, can also fast-charge newer Apple Watch models.

Yes, that’s right. You slap your watch on top of the 65W plug to charge. Hope your outlets are easy to reach, I guess?

If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission.

A USB wall charger plugged into an outlet, charging an Apple Watch mounted atop it as well as an iPhone via a USB cable.
Image: Nomad
The Polar Grit X2 Pro is a smartwatch that feels adrift

This is meant to be the best Polar’s got, but it has no business being this expensive.

Victoria Song
Andrew Liszewski
Andrew Liszewski
Nothing is teasing its next smartwatch’s customizability.

Following teases that revealed the first smartphone from Nothing’s affordable subbrand will have swappable rear panels, the company has shared another image on X revealing its upcoming CMF Watch Pro 2 will allow users to change the wearable’s appearance with interchangeable bezels.

The Watch Pro 2, the Phone 1, and the Buds Pro 2 will be announced on July 8th at 5AM ET.

A user attaches a swappable bezel to the CMF by Nothing Watch Pro 2.
Like the CMF Phone 1, the Watch Pro 2 will allow users to easily customize the smartwatch’s appearance.
Image: Nothing
Sheena Vasani
Sheena Vasani
Here’s a possible first look at the Apple Watch X.

The next Apple Watch may have a two-inch display, according to CAD renders posted by 91mobiles, which said they were “sourced from industry insiders.” They supposedly depict either the Apple Watch Series 10 or a rumored special anniversary edition. If true, that means the wearable will feature the largest display ever on an Apple Watch.

A CAD render of what is either the  Apple Watch Series 10 or its rumored special anniversary edition.
Image: 91mobiles
Wes Davis
Wes Davis
Rest in peace, Siri watchface.

The Siri face no longer exists, at least in the watchOS 11 developer beta, according to AppleInsider. If it’s gone in the release version this fall, that may be the first watchface ever retired, the story notes.

The Siri face debuted with the Apple Watch series 3. Its big idea was that it would surface info as you need it, but new Smart Stack features may make it redundant.

Victoria Song
Victoria Song
Garmin adds YouTube Music to the mix.

You do need a Music Premium account, but you can download playlists for offline playback. We love to see Garmin add to the ConnectIQ store, which... let’s face it, doesn’t have the largest selection as far as third-party smartwatch app stores go. Previously, you could choose between Spotify, Amazon Music, and Deezer. (But I’ve yet to meet anyone who used the latter two with the Garmin.)

Victoria Song
Victoria Song
We got Pixel Watch 3 XL leaks.

And it looks a lot like the Pixel Watch 3 leaks we saw the other day. Just bigger. How much bigger? Apparently the case will be 45mm, which as far as chonky smartwatches go isn’t that big. Even so, we love to see a bigger size option for folks with larger wrists — especially if that means a larger battery too.

Victoria Song
Victoria Song
I’m so jelly of Verge alum Sam Byford right now.

Mostly because he got his mitts on this rad KDDI Infobar Apple Watch case. Turning the KDDI Infobar’s iconic design into a nostalgic Apple Watch accessory? Chef’s kiss. I miss that era of Japanese feature phones so friggin’ much.

You can read more about it in Sam’s review, but how’s that for ‘replacing’ your phone with a smartwatch?

Wes Davis
Wes Davis
Google Wallet won’t be supported on these older Android or Wear OS versions.

Starting June 10th, a Google support page says the digital wallet app will start requiring Android 9 or higher and Wear OS 2 or higher to work, as earlier versions no longer get security updates.

As 9to5Google notes, it only required Android 5.2 when it fully rolled out in 2022.

The Garmin Lily 2 was the tracker I needed on vacation

Its limitations made it fall short in daily life but ended up being a plus while trying to disconnect from the world.

Victoria Song
Wes Davis
Wes Davis
Google is shutting down developer access to Google Fit APIs.

The company says it stopped accepting new sign-ups for API access and that developers will have until June 30th, 2025 to migrate from Google Fit to Android Health.

For now, the Google Fit app still works as it always has; just know that it seems bound for the Google graveyard next year.

Victoria Song
Victoria Song
Navigating on Wear OS just got a bit easier.

Underneath your Home and Work address shortcuts, the Google Maps widget now has a shortcut that lets you launch a map of your current location. This is neat, considering that, unlike Garmins, most Wear OS watches don’t have native compasses or maps preloaded.

The Fossil-size hole in Wear OSThe Fossil-size hole in Wear OS
Victoria Song
Victoria Song
Victoria Song
The Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 is getting Wear OS 4!!! ***

***If you fill out a questionnaire beforehand that includes a non-disclosure agreement and get accepted into the beta test program. Enrollment will last through April 30th, and lucky users will get notified about a week later.

So, not exactly the Wear OS 4 rollout Mobvoi fans have probably been hoping for, but a sign of progress!

Victoria Song
Victoria Song
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 Pro will probably a chonker.

That’s because rumor has it the thing will pack a 600mAh battery. On the one hand, that probably means multiday battery life. We love that! But it also means the Pro will likely be a behemoth. Don’t love that. I get the design challenge, but on behalf of petite-wristed folks, smartwatches can’t keep getting bigger to solve the battery issue.